Unleashing my Stranded Color Genius

So, proceeding belatedly in topics that should have been written the end of 2012...sigh...

I have really loved exploring Stranded Color techniques. I call this article Genius...but that is of course nonsense (but catches attention?).  I am new at this!

But my beginning with the Icelandic Hoodie, was an instant success at working out charted color patterns on my own.

My Second Stranded Color project was off a pattern that has been in my queue for over a year, Cloisonne Jacket in Travel Colors.  In fact, I bought the yarn for it over a year ago also. But Stranded Color was still a little too scary for me.


It is now done.  I easily changed the color scheme within the pattern's chart.  And added a few extra accents in stranded color dots, plus a lace button placket.

And my Third Stranded Color project is entirely my own design.  Worked on the fly and an inkling of an idea, I found inspiration in charts from other patterns, tweaking them together into my Ivory Sand Flowers Swirls Jacket .  Knit in one of my favorite yarns, Mirasol Nuna (wool/silk), it is lightweight and yummy soft.

It works with an ivory shell I knit during the summer.

Do you like the "tattoo flower" on the back, just a reminder of being handknit?

Someday, again, I will write this up as a pattern for others.  I have had the wonderful joy of creating those color charts already!

And my Fourth Stranded Color sweater, I'm now working out my Genius (haha).  Another sweater completely my own design, worked out on the fly.  Stranded Color Chestnut Top, knit with Manos Del Uruguay silk blend yarn, BECAUSE I am making my souvenir IN ADVANCE for a South America trip in January 2013!  This yarn is made in villages and homes in Uruguay, hand dyed, and sold to create a living for the women in the cooperative.  As I am writing this blog post-trip, I can tell you that the yarn is hard to find when you are actually in Uruguay, so no souvenir from there.

Anyhow, I love this top, worn it several times already. The yarn is lightweight but warm.

I worked in the round, bottom up, starting with this lovely softly pleated hemline (from a book given me by my SIL last year).  The chestnut color yarn is softly light-dark in the hand dyed process.

Cute row of flowers in my stranded chart, used along hemline and sleeves.

I did some color going up the side seams, which was a bit too fussy and not that terrific, I'm not sure I would do that again.  But it's there now!

The yoke shaping is particularly unusual, to achieve what I wanted.  I wanted the stranded colorwork in round yoke, but with a scooped neckline, and not low into the sleeves.  So I used combination of raglan and setin shaping of underarms, some short rows to raise shoulders and back above the front. Works for me!

Final Fifth Stranded Color project was a gift. Square Stranded Pillow to work for a dark brown leather sofa.

Another joy of working on the fly.  And I was using leftover yarns that had a somewhat similar gauge, plenty of colors to pick from, solids and variegated.

Made up a few charted patterns, found inspiration from other patterns.

The back is buttoned, different ones from my stash.

I really like this pillow, and the recipient has asked for another!